ES2560634T3 - Cylinder - Google Patents

Abstract

Cylinder, especially a rotating cylinder for a laminator intended for the manufacture of chocolate, with an external cylindrical body (2) and a tempering device for the cylinder body by means of a tempering agent (4), comprising at least one outlet of tempering agent disposed on a front wall (3) of the body (2) of the cylinder to evacuate the tempering agent (4) from and / or out of the cylinder (1), at least one tempering agent inlet on a wall front (3) of the body (2) of the cylinder to feed the tempering agent (4) to and / or into the cylinder (1), at least one spray lance (6; 106) with at least one nozzle (7 ), through which the tempering agent (4) can be sprayed against the inner wall (8) of the cylinder body (2), characterized in that the at least one tempering agent outlet is connected with at least one tube (9; 109) that penetrates the cylindrical body (2).

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Cylinder.

The invention relates to a cylinder, especially a rotating cylinder for a quintuple laminator intended for the manufacture of chocolate, with a tempering device of the cylinder body by means of a tempering agent, to a tempering agent supply device to cylinders, to an evacuation tube of cylinder tempering agent and to a process of reconditioning of cylinders.

The tempering agent generally consists of a fluid, for example water, which serves the majority of the times as a refrigerant to cool the cylinder. However, the tempering agent can in principle be brought to a temperature by means of which the temperature of the cylinder is stabilized or increased.

A cylinder of this class is known by practice, for example by EP0072504. In this cylinder a hollow cylinder body is provided which is arranged horizontally in the operating state and into which a tempering agent is introduced through a so-called spray lance. It is arranged in a substantially coaxial position inside the cylinder.

The spray lance has a feeding tube for tempering liquid and nozzles distributed along its length at a distance from each other, which are directed substantially upwards. Usually, the tempering agent can be sprayed against the inner wall of the cylinder body by means of the spray lance. The tempering agent then runs through the inner wall of the cylinder body in its lower half, where the tempering agent accumulates. The heated or excess tempering agent is removed through a channel that runs centrally with respect to the longitudinal median axis. Since this channel extends only slightly below the axis, the cylinder is filled with tempering agent approximately halfway.

The tempering agent can flow through a return pipe to a thermostat, can be placed there again at the desired temperature and can be brought back to the hollow cylinder through the spray lance.

Therefore, a cylinder of this class has a relatively high weight during operation, which disadvantageously affects only manufacturing and operating costs. For example, cylinder bearings have to adapt to the weight and relatively high forces thus produced. The large mass moved also leads to high energy consumption.

In addition, the high consumption of tempering agent during the operation of such cylinders is disadvantageous. If water is used for cooling, then there is also the danger of calcification in an open cooling circuit.

The amount of tempering agent needed can be reduced when the tempering agent is removed through peripheral outlet openings. The materialization of such openings is extremely complicated and the openings also hinder the operation of the cylinder.

As an alternative, the tempering agent, as shown, for example, in DE 1 66 665 or EP 1 661 624, can be driven along the inner enclosed surface by forced guidance into the cylinder body. A cooling body in the cylinder is provided for this.

DE 840 948 concerns a hollow refrigerated cylinder for chocolate mills. The cooling is carried out by introducing a refrigerant into an annular slit between a cylindrical insert and the inner wall of the cylinder.

Document GB 825 075 shows a hollow temperature cylinder in which a refrigerant is introduced through an axial conduit that is discharged back into the outlet side through an opening. The refrigerant is distributed with a helical nerve in the interior space of the cylinder. It is disadvantageous in this case that the rigidity of the cylinder is affected by the effect of the cooling body and the cooling body itself also has a weight that must be taken into account during the operation of the cylinder.

Documents GB 684.302 and CH278071 show a tempering cylinder, in which a refrigerant is transported into and out of the cylinder through the front sides of the cylinder. The coolant inlet can be configured as a lance from which the coolant is discharged radially through drilled holes. The outlet is made through channels that run on the front side of the cylinder and have openings, whereby the end of the channels away from the coolant outlet has a distance to the inner wall of the cylinder that is smaller than half of the radio The front sides and thus also the channel openings rotate and, nevertheless, move together with the cylinder.

Document DE 3145145 shows a refrigeration equipment for hollow cylinders of cylinder rubbing machines for chocolate crushing. The refrigerant is fed through flexible pipes that

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They are equipped with nozzles, the tubes protruding radially from the shaft and directing the refrigerant directly to the inner wall of the cylinder. The evacuation of the refrigerant is carried out in a known manner by a longitudinal bore in the cylinder wing.

The invention is based on the problem of providing a cylinder of the kind mentioned at the beginning that overcomes the drawbacks of the known and that can be efficiently cooled.

The problem is solved by means of a cylinder, especially a rotating cylinder for a laminator intended for the manufacture of chocolate, with an external cylindrical body and equipment to temper the cylinder body by means of a tempering agent. The cylinder according to the invention comprises at least one tempering agent outlet to drive the tempering agent out of the cylinder and, in particular in addition to the tempering agent outlet, at least one tempering agent inlet to feed the tempering agent in the cylinder The outlet and the entrance are arranged in a front wall of the cylinder body, so that no feeding or evacuation is effected through the cylindrical envelope. The evacuation and / or the feeding can be carried out, for example, through a cylinder bearing world which is rotatably mounted in a corresponding bearing arranged in a bearing block. Preferably, the tempering agent outlet and / or the tempering agent inlet does not rotate in conjunction with the cylinder.

The cylinder according to the invention further comprises a spray lance with at least one nozzle, through which a tempering agent can be sprayed against the inner wall of the cylinder body. Preferably, a row of nozzles is arranged along the spray lance.

The spray lance is connected to the tempering agent entrance. Preferably, the spray lance is detachably attached, whereby it can be removed, for example, for cleaning purposes or can be used, depending on the application of a spray lance, with a different spray characteristic.

According to the invention, the at least one outlet of tempering agent is connected, especially in a releasable manner, with at least one tube that penetrates, in particular freely, into the cylindrical body of the cylinder.

In particular, the tube is embedded in the cylinder envelope and does not run along said cylinder envelope either.

By "horn" is meant in the present application a substantially elongated preferably component, through which a fluid can be conducted. Preferably, it is a hollow body.

Preferably, a single tube is provided, but also several tubes can penetrate the cylinder.

The tube preferably consists of a nigged or flexible tubular element, on one side of which, which is arranged, in the assembled state, at the far end of the outlet of the tempering agent, there is at least one opening through which the tempering agent can pass from the cylinder body to the tube and to the outlet of the tempering agent. Alternatively and / or additionally, other openings may be provided in the tube wall, preferably susceptible to being closed.

The tube may be made of a flexible material and may have a flexible hose type character. Preferably, the tube has at least partially a substantially defined cylindrical shape and, therefore, is rather tubular in shape.

The tube makes it possible to adjust the amount of tempering agent in the cylinder by proper positioning.

The union between the tube and the outlet of the tempering agent can be carried out as a fluid conductor so that the tempering agent can flow from the tube to the outlet of said tempering agent.

In contrast to the tempering agent that is evacuated by tubing of tempering agent that are joined with the cylinder body, especially with the envelope of said cylinder, the tempering agent in the tube does not have to move together with the cylinder.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the distance between the end of the tube away from the outlet of the tempering agent and the inner wall of the cylinder body is smaller than the radius of the cylinder body, preferably smaller than half the radius. . The tube looks down especially in the operating state, so that the tempering agent is evacuated from an area that is located within the lower half of the cylinder body. If the tempering agent is evacuated quickly enough, the cylinder is then filled only to the height of the end of the tube.

Thus, the cylinder then clearly includes less tempering agent than conventional cylinders, in which the tempering agent is evacuated through an outlet arranged substantially in axial position.

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In an advantageous variant of the invention the distance between the end of the tube away from the outlet of the tempering agent and the inner wall of the cylinder body is adjustable.

The tube may, for example, have an articulation and may be comfortable with respect to the axis of the cylinder.

The tube can also be, for example, of telescopic construction and have a variable length.

The height to which the cylinder body is filled with tempering agent can thus be controlled. The closer to the inner wall of the cylinder body is an end of the tube directed downward in the operating state, the less the cylinder has to be filled before an outlet of the tempering agent can occur.

The efficiency of tempering depends on the nature of the tempering agent, the temperature difference between the tempering agent and the cylinder, the number of nozzles and the flow rate of the tempering agent, also correlated with this number, through the cylinder. The greater the number of nozzles used for spraying, the more tempering agent can be introduced into the cylinder and the more evenly the tempering agent can be distributed through the inner wall of the cylinder.

For certain applications it may be desired that the cylinder be filled with more or less tempering agent. The amount can be adjusted by means of the distance from the end of the tube to the cylinder.

The distance is especially adjustable by means of the angle between a tube preferably in the form of a nested tube and the axis of the cylinder body.

To this end, the tube or at least the part of the tube away from the outlet of the tempering agent is articulated in the joint with the outlet of the tempering agent.

For introduction into the cylinder, the tube may be coaxially oriented to the cylinder body. When the tube is in the cylinder, this or at least part of it can then be folded down until the end of the tube adopts the desired distance to the inner wall of the cylinder body.

Therefore, for maintenance or cleaning purposes it is not necessary to disassemble the entire cylinder, but it is sufficient that the extended tube is removed through an opening of the front surface of the cylinder body.

In another advantageous embodiment of the cylinder the outlet of the tempering agent and the entrance of the tempering agent extend together axially with respect to the cylinder and / or into it. The cylinder body then needs a single supply opening in one of the front surfaces.

Preferably, the outlet of the tempering agent and the entrance of said tempering agent are arranged in a common tube. The exit and the entry of tempering agent can then be removed together for maintenance and cleaning purposes and then mounted again, which facilitates these processes and reduces the time required.

The tube preferably extends axially within the cylinder.

Preferably, the tempering agent outlet, the tempering agent entrance, the at least one spray lance and the at least one tube form a constructive unit, so that the tempering agent outlet, the tempering agent entrance , the at least one spray lance and the at least one tube can be assembled together in a single step in the cylinder.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention the cylinder has two spray lances.

The nozzles of the spray lances are arranged in respective positions preferably offset relative to each other in axial direction. In this way, more nozzles than on an individual spray lance can be arranged for each axial length.

Spray lances may be equipped with nozzles that look in respective different spray directions. For example, the spray directions of the nozzles of a spray lance deviate from the vertical according to an angle, while the spray directions of the nozzles of the other nozzle lance deviate from the vertical according to corresponding angles in the other address.

The interior space of the cylinder body is thus requested more evenly with tempering agent, which leads to more efficient tempering.

The evacuation of the tempering agent can be carried out in the manner of an overflow in joined containers or in the outlet pipe a pump can be arranged that provides a suction of the

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tempered out of the cylinder.

Preferably, the cylinder has means for generating an overpressure in the interior space of the cylinder, especially an air supply. The pressure takes care that the tempering agent comes out of the tube. The filling level of the cylinder body thus rises above the height of the end of the tube and the desired amount of tempering agent in the cylinder body is guaranteed.

The air is preferably also introduced through an opening in the front surface of the cylinder body.

The overpressure can also be generated by means of a gas feed through the spray lance.

Alternatively or additionally, a tube for supplying compressed air may be provided in the tube.

An overpressure between 0.2 and 0.8 bar is generated, preferably between 0.5 and 0.6 bar, more preferably around 0.5 bar.

In another advantageous embodiment of the cylinder at least one sensor is provided to measure the level of filling of the tempering agent.

The sensor may be mounted on the cylinder envelope or on a front side of the cylinder. Preferably, the filling level sensor is mounted so that it does not rotate with the cylinder. For this purpose, it can be fixed to a sensor holder driven through the bearing world or in the tempering agent feed pipe or in the tempering agent evacuation pipe, for example in the spray lance.

Especially preferably, the sensor is connected to the tube.

The sensor can also be provided in the evacuation pipe of tempering agent and / or in the supply pipe of tempering agent.

The sensor may consist, for example, of an ultrasonic, radar, laser or infrared sensor, with which the distance between the sensor and the surface of the tempering agent is determined.

The sensor may consist, for example, of a capacitive or conductive sensor of the filling level.

Alternatively, the sensor may consist of a flowmeter that measures the amount of tempering agent that is fed and / or evacuated, thereby drawing conclusions about the level of filling.

Alternatively, the tube can serve as a filling level sensor. The height of the filling level can be determined, for example, by establishing, depending on the distance from the end of the tube to the inner envelope of the cylinder, if liquid comes out of the tube. The height of the filling level is the result of the distance between the end of the tube and the inner envelope of the cylinder, in which the tempering agent of the cylinder just still or just comes out.

A cozy tube can be calibrated as a filling level sensor by associating the adjustable angles with the respective heights of the filling level.

With the filling level sensor, it is possible to check that the desired amount of tempering agent is in the cylinder.

With the help of the filling level sensor, the amount of tempering agent in the cylinder can be regulated. If the filling level exceeds, for example, a nominal value, then the internal pressure can be increased by means of an additional compressed air supply. If the filling level falls below a set nominal value, then, for example, the amount of tempering agent feed can be increased or the amount of evacuated tempering agent can be reduced. This is done until the fill level has the desired value again.

The problem is also solved by means of a cylinder tempering agent supply device. The device comprises at least one tempering agent outlet from and / or out of a cylinder and at least one tempering agent inlet to feed a tempering agent to and / or into the cylinder. The tempering agent inlet is connected, in particular in a releasable manner, with at least one spray lance having at least one nozzle through which the tempering agent can be sprayed.

The at least one tempering agent outlet is connected according to the invention, in particular in a releasable manner, with at least one tube that, in the assembled state, penetrates the cylinder body.

New cylinders can be provided with the device. In addition, existing cylinders can be reconditioned and these can be equipped with an improved supply of tempering agent by mounting the

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device according to the invention.

In an advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention the angle between at least one spray lance and at least one tube, at least one end piece of the tube, is adjustable.

In general, the device is mounted so that the spray lance runs approximately axially with the axis of the cylinder or runs at least parallel to the axis of the cylinder, so that a uniform spray is performed.

Preferably, the tube extends into the cylinder, so that it can be inserted into a small coaxially arranged opening of the cylinder and is folded down into the cylinder.

The angular regulation makes it possible for the end of the tube to approach the inner envelope of the cylinder.

Preferably, the device has an air supply to introduce compressed air into the cylinder body.

The total supply of tempering agent then forms a construction unit that can be assembled as a whole for maintenance, cleaning and reconditioning purposes. The device preferably has sealing means and mounting means, so that the device can be mounted as a supply of tempering agent in a hollow cylinder.

The problem is also solved by means of an evacuation tube of cylinder tempering agent. The tube can be joined with a tempering agent outlet to evacuate a tempering agent from and / or out of a cylinder and the angle between the end piece of the tube and the joint axis and / or between the axis of the distal end of the tube and the axis of union is adjustable.

The tube is plugged in or screwed onto the outlet of the tempering agent, thereby obtaining a fluid tight junction.

The regulation of the angle is made possible, for example, by means of an articulated joint between the tube and the outlet of the tempering agent.

In an advantageous embodiment, the tube has an appendage of the tube and an end piece of tube that are articulated together.

The tube can consist of a flexible tube whose orientation is variable.

The problem is solved by means of a refrigeration process of a cylinder, preferably as described above, in which a tempering agent is driven by a tempering agent inlet to and / or into the cylinder, the tempering agent through a spray lance with at least one nozzle against the inner wall of the cylinder body, and the tempering agent is transported out of the cylinder body to an outlet of tempering agent through an opening of a tube that penetrates the body of the cylinder.

In an advantageous embodiment, an overpressure is generated in the cylinder which takes care that the tempering agent leaves the cylinder. Additionally or alternatively, the tempering agent is sucked.

In another advantageous embodiment, the angle of the tube is adjusted with respect to the axis of the cylinder before the cylinder is put into operation.

The problem is also solved by means of a cylinder reconditioning procedure, in which the current supply of tempering agent is first removed and then a device is assembled as described above.

The invention is explained in more detail below by means of an embodiment and with the help of figures.

They show:

Figure 1, a sectional view of a cylinder according to the invention with a first example for a tube; and Figures 2a-2c, views of a second example for a tube according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a sectional view of a cylinder 1 according to the invention.

The cylinder 1 has an outer cylindrical body 2.

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The cylinder body 2 is 260 cm long and has an outer diameter of 40 cm, as well as an internal diameter of 33 cm. Of course, the material of the cylinder is heat conductive. The cylinder is preferably made of a metal foundry, for example gray cast iron.

On a front wall 3 of the body 2 of the cylinder there is an outlet of tempering agent, not explicitly represented, for the evacuation of the tempering agent 4 out of the cylinder and an entry of tempering agent, neither explicitly represented, for the feeding from tempering agent to cylinder 1.

The tempering agent outlet and the tempering agent inlet run in a common tube 5.

The tempering agent 4 is sprayed against the inner wall 8 of the cylinder body 2 by means of two spray lances 6 on which nozzles 7 are attached. The tempering agent outlet is connected with a tube 9 that penetrates the cylindrical body 2.

The tube 9 has a union 11 with the outlet of tempering agent located in the tube 5, but not shown explicitly.

The distal end 10 of the tube 9 is articulated in the appendix 21 of the tube.

The distance 12 between the end 13 of the tube away from the outlet of tempering agent and the inner wall 8 of the cylinder body 2 is smaller than the radius of said cylinder body. In the position of the tube 9 shown in the figure the distance 12 is approximately 1 cm. Therefore, the evacuation of the tempering agent 4 is carried out very close to the inner wall 8.

The distance 12 can be varied by regulating the angle 14 between the distal end 10 of the tube and the axis 15 of the cylindrical body. The angle between the distal end 10 of the tube and the spray lance 6 or between the distal end 13 of the tube and the axis 22 of the junction 11 is also used at the same time.

To extract the complete supply of tempering agent out of the cylinder body, the angle 14 can be adjusted to 0 degrees. The tube 9 is then in a state of extension and can be extracted by an opening in the front wall 3.

Around the tube 5, in which the inlet and outlet of the tempering agent are located, air supply pipes 16 are distributed. The air generates an overpressure of approximately 0.5 bar in the interior space 17 of the cylinder.

Air pressure and water pressure can be regulated independently of each other.

The tube 5 with the inlet and outlet of tempering agent runs through the conduit of the cylinder 1 and has connections to a fitting 18 for supplying the tempering agent and to a fitting 19 for evacuating the tempering agent, as well as to a fitting 20 air supply.

The tempering agent 4 is conducted within a closed circuit by means of a thermostat not shown in the figure. The tempering agent is inoculated for it in order to prevent fouling and / or calcification.

For example, distilled water with anti-corrosive agent additives and / or calcification protection is used.

The tempering agent is in the lowest possible position inside the cylinder. The end 10 of the tube has a temperature sensor that is connected to a regulation that ensures that, at a temperature that is higher than the previously defined limit temperature, the amount of tempering agent influx is increased. Therefore, the amount of water fed depends on the temperature of the water in the tube area.

Figure 2a shows a side view of a second example for a tube 109 according to the invention in the introduction position.

A distal end 110 of the tube 109 is mounted with an articulation 111 in the appendix 112 of the tube. When the tube 109 is plugged into the cylinder or removed from the cylinder, the axis of the distal end 123 has a position parallel to the insertion axis 124, the axis of the common tube 105 and the joint axis 122.

Figure 2a shows a side view of the second example for the tube 109 according to the invention in the operating position.

When the tube 109 is in the cylinder, the end 110 of the tube then collapses down due to the force of gravity as far as the abutment surfaces 125, 126 of the joint 111 admit.

The tube 109 has an inner tube 127 and an outer tube 128 that are movable relative to each other and which

they can be immobilized by means of a thread not explicitly represented.

When the end 110 of the tube has been folded down, the inner tube 127 is immobilized with respect to the outer tube 128, whereby the end 110 of the tube cannot be freely retracted upwards.

Only when the tube 109 is to be removed again from the cylinder, the joint between the inner tube 5 127 and the outer tube 128 is released, the joint 111 again has clearance and the end can be raised upwards

110 of the tube as soon as this shock during retraction against the cylinder wall.

Figure 2a shows a top view of the second example for the horn 109 according to the invention in the operating position. The horn 109 is disposed between the spray lances 106.

With a typical internal cylinder diameter of 340 mm and lengths of 1800 mm or 2400 mm, an effective cooling of a flow rate of approximately 2 m3 per hour is required.

Claims (11)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 40 1. Cylinder, especially a rotating cylinder for a laminator intended for the manufacture of chocolate, with an external cylindrical body (2) and a tempering device for the cylinder body by means of a tempering agent (4), comprising at least one tempering agent outlet arranged on a front wall (3) of the body (2) of the cylinder to evacuate the tempering agent (4) from and / or out of the cylinder (1), at least one tempering agent inlet a front wall (3) of the body (2) of the cylinder to feed the tempering agent (4) to and / or into the cylinder (1), at least one spray lance (6; 106) with at least one nozzle (7), through which the tempering agent (4) can be sprayed against the inner wall (8) of the cylinder body (2), characterized in that the at least one outlet of tempering agent is connected with the minus a tube (9; 109) that penetrates the cylindrical body (2). 2. Cylinder according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance (12) between the end (10; 110) of the tube (9; 109) away from the outlet of tempering agent and the inner wall (8) of the body ( 2) of the cylinder is smaller than the radius of the body (2) of the cylinder, preferably smaller than half the radius. 3. Cylinder according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the distance (12) between the end (10; 110) of the tube (9; 109) away from the outlet of tempering agent and the inner wall (8) of the The cylinder body is adjustable, especially by adjusting the angle (14) between the end (10; 110) of the tube (9; 109) away from the outlet of the tempering agent and the axis (15) of the cylindrical body (2 ). 4. Cylinder according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tempering agent outlet and the tempering agent inlet extend together axially, preferably being arranged in a common tube (5; 105). 5. Cylinder according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cylinder (1) has two spray lances (6; 106). 6. Cylinder according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cylinder (1) has means for generating an overpressure in the interior space of the cylinder, especially an air supply (16). 7. Cylinder tempering agent supply device, comprising at least one tempering agent outlet for evacuating a tempering agent (4) from and / or out of a cylinder (1), at least one agent inlet of tempering to feed a tempering agent (4) to and / or into the cylinder (1) and at least one spray lance (6) with at least one nozzle (7), through which the tempering agent (4), characterized in that the at least one tempering agent outlet is connected with at least one tube (9; 109) which, in the assembled state, penetrates the body (2) of the cylinder. 8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the angle between the spray lance (6) and the tube (9) is adjustable. 9. Device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the device has an air supply (16) for introducing compressed air into the body (2) of the cylinder. 10. Evacuation tube of cylinder tempering agent, characterized in that the tube can be connected with an outlet of tempering agent to evacuate a tempering agent (4) from and / or out of a cylinder (1), and by that the angle (14) between the axis (123) of the distal end (10; 110) of the tube and the joint axis (22) is adjustable. 11. Cylinder reconditioning procedure, characterized by the steps of - withdraw the current supply of tempering agent, - mounting a device according to any of claims 7-9.